Hey what’s up—it’s Annika, and in this video I’m finally back with an October 2023 “budget with me” after taking a little pause from sharing my debt free journey. I’m still making my monthly payments (so the debt is still going down), but I’ve been super honest that I’ve been burnt out and basically “living off vibes”…and as we know, vibes don’t pay off debt. Running has been my main focus lately (I’m training for Dopey again), but it was time to sit down, open up the free EveryDollar app, and look at real numbers. I walk through my October budget line by line—housing (my $2,300 mortgage), utilities, gas/tolls, car payment, and food (HelloFresh is pricier, but it keeps me from overspending and makes life easier). I also talk through subscriptions I’ve cut (like Kindle Unlimited and Audible), the ones I’m keeping (like Peloton), and the “I’m a flawed human” purchases I regret (hi, iPad payment). On top of that, I’m dealing with a knee injury and physical therapy costs, plus student loan payments restarting—so yes, this month is messy and I’m over budget. The takeaway: budgets should be fluid, honesty matters, and sometimes you take a few steps back while still keeping the systems in place to move forward.